Interlocking ornamental railing



N. B. HURET INTERLOCKING ORNAMENTAL RAILING April 2, 1963 2 Shasta-Shoot 1 Filed May 12, 1960 INVENTOR. NORMAN B. HURET BYXUJW ATTORNEY p l 2, 1963 N. B. HURET 3,083,951

INTERLOCKING ORNAMENTAL RAILING Filed May 12. 1960 2 Shouts-Shoot 2 Ila INV EN TOR. NORMAN B. HURE T ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflice 3,083,951 Patented Apr. 2, 1963 3 083 951 INTERLGCKING O RNiAMlElJTAL RAILING Norman E. Hui-ct, Wadsworth, Ohio, assignor to Locke Manufacturing Company, Lodi, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 12, 1960, Ser. No. 28,672 1 (Iiaim. (Cl. 256-65) This invention relates to the art of ornamental railings and in particular relates to a new and improved type of ornamental railing that is characterized by a releasable mechanical interlock between certain of the component parts thereof.

In the copending application of Norman B. Huret and Carl W. Halliwell for Interlocking Ornamental Railing, Serial No. 5,441, filed January 29, 1960, there was disclosed an improved type of ornamental railing that was characterized by the interlock between all component parts thereof, with the top and bottom rail sections being respectively locked to the cap and post portions and with the spindles further being interlocked to the rail sections to prevent separation of the railing sections during use.

While the railing section of the above described application has met with commercial success, it has been discovered that the complexity and cost of the same can be materially reduced without appreciable change by simplifying the connection between the post and railing components.

Specifically, the railing section of the above referred to copending application taught the use of a specially formed and contoured post of generally stellate crosssectional configuration that was designed to be interfitted with the cap and railing sections, as fully described in the specification of the aforesaid application.

It has been discovered, however, that the same general results can be obtained at a considerably less cost by extending the novel spacer elements that were employed in the aforesaid application and bending the same at approximately right angles adjacent the rail ends so as to provide a mounting strap that can be readily and quickly adapted to any configuration of post, regardless of the cross-sectional contour of the same.

Production of a simplified type of interlocking ornamental railing section having the above characteristics accordingly becomes the principal object of this inven tion, with other objects becoming more apparent upon a reading of the following brief specification, considered and interpreted in the light of the accompanying drawmgs.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the connection between the top rail and one newel post.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connection between the bottom rail section and a newel post.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the lines 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational View of the improved railing drawn to a reduced scale.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken on the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4 drawn to an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective, partly broken away and in section, and showing the engagement between the rail section, and the spacer, and the spindle.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGURE 1, the improved ornamental railing assembly, generally designated by the numeral 10, includes a newel post 11, top and bottom rails 12 and 13 and spindles 14, 14; the arrangement being such that the post 11 projects upwardly from a mounting base or flange 11a and receives the top and bottom rail sections 12 and 13, while the spindles 14, 14 interconnect with the top and bottom rail sections 12 and 13 in the manner set forth in the above referred to copending application.

Considering now the detailed structure of the component parts just described, it will be seen that the post 11 is preferably of generally square cross-sectional configuration so as to include a rail receiving or mounting face 20 against which the ends of the rail sections 12 and 13 can be positioned, as will be described. It should be noted that the post 11 can be either of solid or hollow configuration and further is not limited to being of square cross-sectional configuration.

Referring to FIGURE 1 for a detailed consideration of the top rail section 12, the same is shown as being of generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration so as to include opposed side walls 31 and 32, as well as a connecting Wall portion 33, with the preferred embodiment of the invention contemplating that the wall section 33 be curved and also integrally project beyond its point of juncture with the opposed walls 31 and 32 for the purpose of providing decorative flanges 34 and 35 that also serve to add longitudinal stiffness to the rail section 12.

In addition to the aforementioned component parts, return flanges 36 and 37 are provided at the projecting ends of the walls 31 and 32, with these flanges 36 and 37 having their projecting ends preferably tapered towards each other, as is clearly shown in the drawings. The side walls 31 and 32 further include intermediate projecting flanges 38 and 39, respectively, with these flanges being designed for coaction with the spindles 14, as will hereinafter be described.

Also, and for the purpose of retaining the component parts in engagement after installation, the wall sections 31 and 32 include opposed apertures, with one such aperture 37a being shown adapted to receive an internally threaded nut sleeve 32b while a bolt 31a may be passed through the remaining opposed aperture in wall 31 for telescopic reception in sleeve 32b, which will be aligned therewith. In this fashion the sleeve 32!) and bolt 31a can operate to draw the walls 31 and 32 towards each other and against the edges of spacer 5i). 1

In like fashion and referring to FIGURE 2, the bottom rail section 13 is shown as being of generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration so as to again include opposed wall sections 41 and 42 that are connected by a bottom wall 43. Return flanges 44 and 45 are provided adjacent the ends of the wall sections 41 and 42, while projecting flanges or ribs 46 and 47 are spaced therefrom for association with the spindles 14, as will be described. Here again the flanges 44 and 45 are preferably tapered towards each other at their projecting ends similar to flanges 36 and 37.

Again, the wall section 42 is shown provided with an aperture within which may be received a nut sleeve 48, it being understood that a similar aligned aperture is provided on wall section 41 for reception of a bolt (not shown) that will coact with the nut sleeve 48 to draw the walls 41 and 42 towards each other and against the opposed edge of spacer 50.

In order that the top and bottom rails 12 and 13 may present the appearance of a closed assembly, a spacer unit, indicated generally by the numeral 50 and shown best in FIGURES 1 and 2, is provided, with this spacer 50 being contoured in the form of an elongate strap that preferably has bulbous-like longitudinal edges 51 and 52 that are each notched, as at 63, for coaction with the tapered ends of the return flanges 36 and 37 or the return flanges 44 and 45. It is believed apparent that the spacer unit 50 can preferably be used interchangeably with the rail section 12 or 13.

While the spacer 50 serves to close off the interior of the top or bottom rail 12 or 13, as has just been described,

the same also serves another definite and distinct function in connection with this invention. Specifically, the exposed end 61a thereof (FIGURE 2) serves as a stop for the spindles 14 when the same is positioned as shown in FIGURE 2.

For the purpose of elfectuating mounting of the rail sections 12 or 13 with respect to the post 11, the strap 50 is shown transversely bent, as at 55, to define right angle mounting strap 56, with this mounting strap 56 preferably being disposed in substantially coplanar relationship with the longitudinal end of the rail section 12 or 13. An aperture 57 permits a screw 58 to be employed for the purpose of securing strap portion 56 with respect to the newel post 11.

With regard to the detailed construction of the spindle 14, it suffices to say that the same is of generally elongate fiat configuration, with the preferred form of the invention contemplating that the spindle be twisted into the spiral form illustrated. The opposed ends of each spindle, however, are preferably formed in parallelism with each other and are notched, as at 62, 62 and 63, 63, so as to permit interfitting of the notches 62, 62 with the flanges 44 and 45, while the notches 63, 63 similarly receive flanges 46 and 47. Another set of similarly spaced notches are provided at the other end of the spindle 14 for coaction with the flanges 36, 37, 38 and 39.

In cross-section the spindles are preferably shown tapering to a thinner section adjacent their longitudinal center for weight reduction purposes.

In use or operation of the improved ornamental railing assembly, it is merely necessary that the newel post 11 be positioned so as to project from the ground or stair surface and, at this time, the pre-bent strap portion 50 can be positioned so that the mounting strap portion 56 thereof is in abutment with the mounting face 20.

At this time a hole may be drilled in the face 20 and the screw 58 inserted in known fashion. At this time the spaced flanges 36 and 37 of rail section 12 may be fitted into the notches 63 and the entire rail unit slid longitudinally of the strap 50 until the end thereof abuts against the mounting face 20. At this time and after the bottom rail section 13 has been mounted in similar fashion, it is believed apparent that spindle 14 can be inserted between the opposed mouth sections of the top and bottom rails and twisted into place until the same abuts the end 61a of the positioned spacer 50. At this time another spacer 50 can be positioned in place followed by insertion of a spindle with this process being repeated until complete assembly of the unit is accomplished.

After positioning as just described, the walls 31 and 32 may be provided with opposed apertures such as 37a, followed by installation and engagement of nut sleeve 32b and bolt 31a. Similarly, the walls 41 and 42 of the bottom rail may be drilled and when the sleeve nut 4': 48 has received the screw (not shown) and been tightened, the spacer 50 will, in each case, be securely locked in place.

It is believed apparent that as an alternative method of assembly to that just described, that it would be possible to snap the spacers 50, 50 into place adjacent the end of either rail section, with care being taken to have a projecting portion provided. At this time this projecting portion could be bent to the right angle configuration shown in the drawings, at which time the entire assembled unit could be easily and quickly attached with respect to the post 11.

While a full and complete disclosure of the invention has been set forth in accordance with the dictates of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that the invenion is not intended to be so limited.

Accordingly, modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claim.

This application is a continuation in part of copendmg application, Serial No. 5,441, filed January 29, 1960.

What is claimed is:

An ornamental railing assembly of the character described, comprising; a pair of newel posts projecting from a surface in substantially parallel relationship with each other; top and bottom elongate rail sections of generally U-shaped cross-section and being longitudinally positionable between said posts in substantial parallelism with each other; each said rail section having opposed elongate side walls and an elongate connecting member interconnecting said side walls along one longitudinal edge thereof with the open portions between said remaining longitudinal edges of said side walls facing each other when said rail sections are disposed in substantial parallelism with each other; at least one elongate spindle, the ends of which are receivable through the open portions of said rail sections; an elongate closure plate frictionally secured between the remaining elongate edges of said side walls and spanning the open portions therebetween; said closure plate having one projecting longitudinal end which has a bend at substantially right angles and having the opposed longitudinal end thereof abutting said elongate spindle; and means for securing said projecting end of said closure plate to said newel post, whereby said closure plate supports one said elongate rail section with respect to one said newel post While simultaneously spacing said spindle with respect to said newel post to which said projecting end of said closure plate is secured.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

